‘NOT GUILTY’ (2023) | Sarah Kate Moulds, née Stimson, born June 1984, of 2 Oakham Road, Somerby, Melton Mowbray LE14 2QF – acquitted by a jury despite being filmed kicking a pony to the chest and slapping him across the head four times.
‘Not guilty’ | Sarah Moulds, a former primary school teacher, was filmed kicking and striking a pony during a fox hunt.
After a three-day trial at Lincoln crown court Sarah Moulds was cleared of animal cruelty by a jury. She and several friends and family also in court, wept as the verdict was delivered.
The vile incident, which took place in Gunby, Lincolnshire, on 6 November 2021, was caught on camera by the Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs when Moulds was out with the Cottesmore Hunt.
The RSPCA, which brought the prosecution, argued that Moulds’ actions would have caused the 12-year-old horse, called Bruce, ‘fear, distress and psychological suffering’.
An equine vet who gave evidence in court said Bruce demonstrated fear in the video, which the Crown said constituted suffering at Moulds’ hands.
But Moulds claimed she had acted because Bruce had broken free from a child and needed to be disciplined. She also insisted she had not hurt him.
Bruce was taken to a vet 10 days after the incident and was found to be ‘in very good health’.
Following her acquittal, Moulds claimed the RSPCA’s decision to prosecute her was “political”
The court heard that Moulds and her family had been bombarded with death threats and “messages of hate” after the footage went viral on social media.
Moulds was suspended, then sacked from her job as a primary school teacher. The Pony Club, where she volunteered as a team leader, also dismissed her.
Following the ‘not guilty’ verdict, the RSPCA defended its decision to prosecute Moulds, citing a 95% success rate in animal welfare cases that it brings to court.
It led the prosecution case alone, with no input from the police or the Crown Prosecution Service.
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We do not take the decision to bring prosecution lightly.
‘We apply the same tests as the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether to prosecute someone for animal welfare offences.
‘This requires there to be sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and for it to be in the public interest to prosecute.
‘This case was reviewed by a prosecution case manager, an independent solicitor and a barrister who all agreed that the evidential test was met and with the support of two expert vets.
‘We accept the court’s decision today and thank the jury for their careful consideration, but the public can be assured the RSPCA will always look into concerns that are raised to us about animal neglect and cruelty.
‘We believe that treating all animals with kindness will lead to a more compassionate society and we need everyone to help us do that.
‘Animals do not learn well when they are scared or stressed so physically punishing them is not effective, as a wealth of science shows.
‘That’s why we advocate the use of positive reward training instead of force and fear.’
CONVICTED (2023) | Olly Adegboyega, born December 1967, previously of Morton Road, Swinderby, Lincoln LN6 but as of November 2023 believed to be in Shoby, Melton Mowbray* – for the mistreatment of seven dogs kept at his home.
Despicable: serial animal abuser Oludotun Adegboyega
Olly Adegboyega, who also uses the first name Oludotun, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to six dogs by failing to provide adequate nutrition. He also failed to meet the welfare needs of seven dogs.
The RSPCA attended the defendant’s home in December 2022 and discovered the mistreated dogs.
RSPCA inspector Daniel Bradshaw described the scene that confronted him: “The hallway carpet was soaked in urine and there were faeces trodden all over upstairs and downstairs, the smell of ammonia was very overpowering and stung my eyes.”
Many of the dogs were underweight with their ribs, hips and spines visible through their fur. Their sleeping areas were covered in faeces.
Cruel breeder Olly Adegboyega kept dogs in squalor with little food or water
A deceased dog was found slumped up against the fencing of the dog run. Her only bedding was an old piece of damp soiled carpet.
When inspector Bradshaw moved her body it was apparent that something had eaten away part of her muzzle.
The six surviving dogs were examined by a vet and given treatment.
One of the dogs was extremely thin, had painful arthritis and numerous age-related health concerns The sad decision was made by a vet to put him to sleep to prevent him suffering further.
An expert vet who examined the dogs said in their evidence: “It is my opinion that these dogs were thin or emaciated due to malnutrition / starvation (simply lack of enough appropriate food).”
They added: “The emaciation and very thin body condition of all of the dogs was obvious despite their thick coats.
“The dogs were all suffering because of malnutrition / near starvation, and most had developed anaemia and detriment to their health.
“Had this situation continued their condition would have worsened further, eventually resulting in organ failure and death.”
They concluded that from the examination and blood results of these dogs, they suspect they have all suffered from malnutrition for at least six to twelve weeks and possibly longer.
The dogs had all been signed over into RSPCA care. They have since been rehomed by the RSPCA Lincolnshire Mid and Lincoln Branch.
In mitigation the defendant, who was unrepresented, said he had owned dogs for 15 years and that they had been a central part of his life. The dogs were all well socialised and friendly. He was said to have taken full responsibility and was devastated.
Sentencing | 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; costs of £1,504. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
We were first contacted about Olly Adegboyega as long ago as April 2019. The source was a former partner of his and told us he was a serial dog abuser, not to mention a perpetrator of domestic violence.
The source’s involvement with Adegboyega was in 2016 when she said he had six dogs whom he would “lock in cages, no food nor water for days on end when he went away”.
She added that he “was violent to me and hurt me so I had to walk away”.
The source contacted us again following Adegboyega’s prosecution and said:
I used to know this monster years ago . He had one of my dogs sister, a quality well bred GSD that was sadly one of the dogs that either died or was removed from him.
In my time knowing him, the dogs lived in their own urine and faeces – I reported him and also to his landlord when he stayed in West Yorkshire.
The RSPCA went out to his home but took no further action, but at this point they were not starved just living in shit.
I’m sure many women also will come forward to comment on here, as he was a womaniser, with many partners who did not know about each other. He used women financially and was violent
I’m devastated to read about the dogs , but glad they are all away from him. Two of the malamutes , one is named Smartie , originally came from a rescue.
He was an accountant with ASDA Wakefield.
He also lived in Wakefield, Kippax, and sub-let a property in Menai Bridge. He is from London with family in Wimbledon.
A total evil narcissist.
All of the above must of course be treated as allegations, but Adegboyega has the right of reply if he wishes to get in touch.
Update | November 2023
*We’ve received a tip-off that Adegboyega lives in Main Street, Shoby, Melton Mowbray LE14 3PJ.
CONVICTED (2022) | former Quorn huntsman John Oliver Finnegan known as Ollie Finnegan, born 13 August 1985, previously of the Quorn Hunt Kennels, Gaddesby Lane, Melton Mowbray LE14 2TQ but more recently of Kennel Lane, Northwich – for illegal hunting with dogs.
Ollie Finnegan was convicted of breaching the Hunting Act after dozens of incriminatory WhatsApp messages were found on his phone
Finnegan, who is now huntsman of the Cheshire Hunt based in Sandiway, Northwich, was seen fox hunting on 7 January 2022. He was caught during a joint meet near Hartpury between Leicestershire’s Quorn Hunt and the Ledbury Hunt, which is based in Gloucestershire.
The meet came less than a fortnight after Ledbury joint hunt master David Redvers said his hunt was committed to trail hunting, which is legal.
Finnegan is now a huntsman with the Cheshire Hunt.
Key evidence was found on Finnegan’s phone after it was seized by officers from Leicestershire Police.
WhatsApp messages on the day show communication about illegal fox-hunting with an unnamed huntsman.
He asked Finnegan: “How’d you get on at Ledbury today?”
Finnegan replies “Only found a brace [of foxes]. First one went to ground, The second went 5 fields to a real thick cover which we weren’t aloud in and had to stop [the hounds].”
The huntsman replies: “used to be full of them round there! Had my best days around there.”
On another occasion the Master says “How did this evening go?” to which Finnegan replied “Found 2 brace [foxes] seen another 2 brace, very busy all night. Hounds hunted well considering the heat.”
Dozens of messages and videos were found on Finnegan’s phone, but only a tiny minority were shared with the court.
Following the conviction, a spokesperson for the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) said: “We can confirm that a current member of the BHSA has today pleaded guilty to illegal hunting on 7th January 2022, near Hartbury, Glos.
“This organisation does not condone illegal activity and the matter has been referred to the Hound Sports Regulatory Authority (HSRA) which is the regulatory body responsible for disciplinary matters.”
Finnegan with wife Rachel Finnegan, who hunts in her own right, and their two boys
Speaking about the case, Lynn Sawyer of Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, said : “Three counties sabs are pleased that the Hunting Act has been enforced in this case.
“Along with Herefordshire hunt sabs we attended the joint Quorn/Ledbury meet to protect foxes and we will continue to sab fox hunts until they stop harming wildlife.”
The allegations related to an incident in Breedon on the Hill, North West Leicestershire, on February 4, 2020.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty and faced trial in August 2021.
Matcham and Finnegan pictured during their court appearance in August 2021
Shockingly they were found not guilty after the Crown Prosecution Service accepted the case had no reasonable prospect of conviction.
The Crown had claimed footage filmed by the League Against Cruel Sports showed ‘a proper fox hunt going back to the olden days’.
But the first witness in the case, the League’s staff member Roger Swaine, told the court on Tuesday that he could not see where Matcham was looking when a fox was seen to emerge from a covert.
Defence lawyer Stephen Welford then asked Mr Swaine: “It’s perfectly reasonable to suggest that hounds were in that bit of covert, they had found an artificial trail…and a fox popped out. That is one possibility, is it not?”
Mr Swaine answered: “Yes.”
Explaining the Crown’s decision to drop the case, before Finnegan and Matcham had given evidence, prosecutor Mark Fielding said: “The Crown Prosecution Service have a duty to review the prospects of success of a matter at all times, up to and including the end of the case.
“Suffice to say, having listened to Mr Swaine giving clearly honest and truthful evidence in cross-examination, for which he is to be commended, my impression, which I communicated to the reviewing lawyer, was that this case no longer had a reasonable prospect of success.”
Immediately after Mr Fielding’s comments, the chair of the three-strong magistrates’ bench entered not guilty verdicts on both defendants.
Martin Sims, director of investigations at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “We’re understandably disappointed with this result but we stand by the evidence we presented, which clearly shows hounds hunting a fox.
“While there are questions that need to be answered about the prosecution’s approach, it’s yet further confirmation that the Hunting Act needs to be strengthened so that it does what it’s supposed to – preventing foxes being chased by hounds.”
He and co-accused Matthew Ramsden, 35, pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Natalie Cheeseman alleged the defendants allowed a pack of hounds to chase a fox in Brokenborough, Malmesbury, at about 8.30am on 13 September 2021.
She said the prime evidence, in the form of video footage, was provided by a member of Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch.
Ms Cheeseman alleged that Matcham and Ramsden were “knowingly engaged in hunting a fox” and did nothing to stop the hounds from pursuing the fox.
She added: “No one appears to do anything to stop the hounds chasing fox”.
Daniel Gill, defending, said his clients both deny hunting whilst legally following a trail and that they “did everything they could” to stop the hounds from pursuing the fox.
The trial will be heard at Swindon Magistrates’ Court later in 2022, but legal advisor Juen Batchelor said a date cannot be fixed until expert witnesses have confirmed their availability.
Matcham, of Kennel Drive, Badminton, and Ramsden, of High Street, Badminton, were remanded on unconditional bail.
Update | August 2023
Finnegan, most recently employed by the Cheshire Hunt, was found guilty of two counts of illegal hunting. He was convicted in his absence after he failed to attend court for a third time.
Finnegan was fined the maximum amount – £1000 – for each of the two offenses and must pay court costs. He was also given a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order including one sanction stating that he cannot hunt with more than 10 hounds.
The Hunt Saboteurs report that Finnegan has now moved to Ireland where foxhunting is legal.
CONVICTED (2016) | Wayne Keightley, born 5 July 1974, of Rutland Street, Melton Mowbray LE13 1QR – threw a nine-week-old puppy from the window of his third-floor flat
Cocaine addict, dog abuser and all-round loser Wayne Keightley
In a prosecution brought by the RSPCA, habitual cocaine user Keightley was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the 9-week-old Staffy named Gypsy after throwing her from the window of his third-floor flat. The distressed puppy suffered injuries to her face, leg and abdomen in the 20-foot fall but has since recovered.
Gypsy suffered injuries to her face, leg and abdomen, but happily recovered.
The court heard how Keightley smashed the window with a vase, threw Gypsy out the window and then jumped out himself minutes later. Sadly he survived with just a fracture to his ankle. He was found on the floor outside in a “rambling” state dragging himself away from the property.
The court heard he told paramedics he had taken a line of cocaine “a couple of hours” before the incident and had also drunk three cans of lager on the same day.
He told the court seven men entered his property to steal watches and were stabbing him in the hands with a pole with a spear-head attached whenever he tried to pick up the frightened puppy. This was not accepted by the court.
As well as having Gypsy confiscated, Keightley is banned from keeping pets of all kinds for the next three years.
He received a 10-week sentence for the offence against Gypsy and a further four-week sentence because he had been subject to a suspended sentence for possessing a knife at the time of this offence.
He spent half of his 14-week sentence in custody and the second half out on licence.
RSPCA inspector Andy Bostock, who investigated, said: “When Gypsy was found on the floor, she was obviously in pain and was very distressed.
“She was immediately taken to a vet and was treated for injuries to her face, leg and abdomen. She is a very, very lucky dog to have not been more seriously injured, considering also how young and delicate she was at nine-weeks-old.
“There is absolutely no excuse to throw an animal out of a window like this – Gypsy would have been terrified and in pain from the various injuries she received. She got off lightly and is now thriving in her foster home.”
Sentence: 10-week prison sentence for animal cruelty (a further four weeks for knife possession); banned from keeping any animal for three, yes THREE, years (expired September 2019).
#MostEvil | Emma Louise Clark (also known as Emma Lounds or Emma Anderson), originally of St Peters Walk, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and more recently at A1 Deerfield Road, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 9AH – starved three dogs, two cats, two rabbits, a pair of snakes and a lizard to death over a period of nearly four months
Emma Clark/Lounds, now of March, Cambridgeshire, left ten animals to starve to death
Clark’s pets included a German Shepherd called Beast, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Tyson and a Mexican hairless dog called Stanley. She also had a cat called Mittens, a kitten called Lucy and a leopard gecko called Leonard. Clark also had a boa constrictor and a corn snake as well as two domestic rabbits.
A sad end for beautiful loyal dog Beast thanks to his owner Emma Clark/Lounds
Another victim of Emma Clark’s cruelty: one of the two cats left to starve to death.
All of them died as a result of the neglect they suffered.
RSPCA officers had made numerous visits to the house between 1 November 2014 and 22 February 2015, but each time they were told by Clark all the animals had been re-homed.
When they were eventually discovered in March it is thought many of the creatures had been dead for months.
RSPCA officials said it was one of the worst cases of animal neglect they had ever seen, and totally avoidable.
Sheona Morley, from the charity, said: “In my 20 years, this is the most horrific case I’ve ever been to – it is also the saddest.
“It was absolute horror to see all those animals had died from starvation, left in their cages with no access to food or water.”
Magistrates told Clark her animals were effectively locked up and starved to death.
Sentence: 18 weeks in custody and banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2013) | Sam Hessin, born 15/11/1973, and daughter Hazel Hessin, born 08/12/1994, both of Cadle Street, Leicester LE9 9PA, plus son Damon Hessin (aka Damon Taylor), born 02/07/1991, now of Belvoir Street, Melton Mowbray LE13 1QA – left eight puppies to starve to death in a room in their home
The vile Hessin family from Leicestershire, who locked puppies in a room and left them to starve to death
This wicked bunch of reprobates are the Hessin family previously all of Melton Mowbray.
Together they are responsible for the death by starvation of eight Staffordshire bull terrier puppies.
The trio barricaded the helpless dogs inside the kitchen of their family home at Wren Close, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and over the next few weeks ignored their desperate howls.
Some of the dogs survived longer by eating the others. Neighbours heard the puppies’ cries but did precisely nothing until it was too late.
Hazel Hessin with mother Sam Hessin
On 1 May 2013 RSPCA officers raided the Hessins’ home after a tip-off from the family’s landlady. Investigators were shocked to find the rotting remains of the dogs, including two puppies’ SKULLS, in the kitchen.
Prosecutors told magistrates: ‘When the inspector walked into the kitchen the smell was rancid and putrid, to her horror she saw the puppies were in advanced stages of decomposition, on a urine stained bed.
‘Dog faeces was several inches thick and everything in the kitchen was in a total state of disarray.
‘The vet estimated the puppies would have been about six months old when they died. The sight and smell of them was shocking and deeply distressing.’
Damon Hessin is now known as Damon Taylor
Despite the horrific outcome of their actions, the sentence passed on the vile family by Leicester Magistrates’ Court in December 2013 was typically lenient.
Damon and Hazel Hessin were both banned from keeping animals for life and given suspended sentences Their mother was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and told to pay an £80 victim surcharge. She was also banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2013) | Jonathan David Bowes, born December 1971, of Vine House, 1 Main Street, Knipton, Grantham NG32 1RW – hacked off nine ducks’ wings with a pair of old scissors
Bowes, who operates a logging business named J & H Logs, pleaded guilty to eight wildlife offences after an investigation into his shooting business at his family’s farm at Holwell, near Melton.
Bowes charged customers to shoot ducks on the lake that had had their wings clipped. Surgically clipping birds’ wings within the first 10 days of their life is legal but Bowes carried out the procedure on older birds without anaesthetic and admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, as well as two charges of carrying out an illegal procedure.
He also admitted illegally selling 12 wild birds at Melton market and possessing spring traps to illegally catch wild birds, which also occasionally killed his ducks.
Sentencing: fined £1,500, ordered to pay £5,000 costs and was banned from being involved in the keeping of any birds for five years (expired 2018).
At Hinckley Magistrates’ Court on 6 February 2016, Bowes attempted to get the ban on keeping birds lifted, explaining that his wife, Emily-Anne Bowes, keeps pigeons, chickens and ducks at their home and their four-year-old daughter also enjoys looking after the animals.
Bowes told magistrates he was being denied the chance to help his daughter with the birds. He said: “I want the ban lifted so I can help her feed the birds and help her if she has chickens to hatch out – and help my wife with maintaining the electric fence and things like that.”
His wife also gave evidence at the hearing to say there were jobs she found difficult, such as carrying around 25kg feed bags, and jobs she was unable to do, such as driving in new fence posts.
Kevin McCole, representing the RSPCA, opposed the lifting of the ban because the original offence has been so serious.
He said: “There’s simply no excuse for causing suffering in the way he did.
“The RSPCA feels that the sentence was commensurate with the seriousness of the offence.”
The magistrates agreed the original five-year ban had been appropriate and refused the application.
Source: Leicester Mercury (article removed).
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